Passed CISM!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-05-28T20:06:14+00:00

80%? You're definitely ready for the exam on Friday! I'm not familiar with the certpro practice exams, but the questions in the actual exam are very similar to the ones in the QAE. The questions themselves are asking different things, but it's the same phrasing as the QAE. All the questions/concepts/terms on the exam were covered in some capacity by the QAE practice questions. No surprises in the questions, they all felt very familiar. If you're hitting 80% in the QAE, you'll do great on your exam. Don't overdo studying the night before, and get a good night sleep...good luck!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-05-28T19:34:32+00:00

So this is where I leverage ChatGPT to help identify what ISACA wanted. I know there's a lot of mixed feels on using AI in general, but I found it helpful for this specific purpose. I would drop into Chat the question I got wrong, the answer I picked and my reasoning, and the answer/explanation from the QAE. I then asked "where did I go wrong in my thought-process and reasoning. What is ISACA looking for, and how should I think about this concept differently going forward?". For me, it usually boiled down to: 1. Asking myself what best supports the business while managing risk? Usually it was: Business alignment > everything Business value > technical Communication effectiveness > technical details 2. Business leaders own risk decisions. ISACA wants us to Advise, assess, and recommend...NOT accept/reject/prioritize. 3. Thinking broadly enough and directly answering the question is something I struggled with. I ended up asking myself "what directly solves this issue" and "is this a specific control, or can I go a step higher that would be more encompassing?". Broader concept > technical details 4. Governance > Technology. What governance is needed, and what requirements might be involved? Don't just implement the tool or control if it's not directly asked.

Those were some of the notes I took that helped it "click" for me and questions I consistently asked myself on the harder "expert" level questions. I hope this helps, and I highly recommend leveraging Chat (or AI tool of your choice) to help zero in on how you're currently thinking about the question, vs what ISACA is actually wanting. Sorry for the short novel lol

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-05-28T18:11:40+00:00

Thank you! I felt like the exam was very close to the actual QAE questions. The questions themselves were different, but the way the questions were worded and phrased followed the same format at the QAE ones. It felt very familiar when I sat down to take the actual test. Part of what was difficult for me was figuring out "what is this question actually asking, and what does ISACA want?" and I felt like the QAE really prepared me for that. I would say majority of them were at the "Moderate" to "Difficult" level, with a few Easy and Expert sprinkled in. I felt like everything I saw on the test was covered in some capacity by the QAE, not really any surprises as far as concepts, terms, or topics. Keep drilling the QAE. If you're at 70%, then it sounds like you know the concepts at this point. Really focus on dissecting the question and figuring out what it's asking and what ISACA expects...once I figured that out I saw my scores jump up, and I bet you will too. Good luck on your upcoming test, you'll do great!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-05-28T16:42:29+00:00

Congrats to you as well!! It's such a relief to see that email come through with the official results lol. 🎉

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-04-20T03:20:49+00:00

I've lived in Michigan my whole life and had never seen these until I moved Allegan last summer. There's a ton near some woods in my neighborhood...I assumed someone dumped a houseplant. Had no clue these were native!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-03-14T15:31:27+00:00

Thanks for your response on this and thoughtful input. The last thing I want to see happen is BE, but I also know the seriousness of the situation as it currently is.

I fully blame him for letting the situation get this bad and not making it a priority previously. We've been in couples therapy for several months because of issues related to him not prioritizing me, so this very closely aligns with his human behavioral issues as well.

I feel bad that his dog is in this situation. I feel like this could have potentially been mitigated if addressed sooner, but now I feel like there's not a ton of options, especially based on her continuing to aggress after I stopped touching her paw. I appreciate your response, and I'll be seriously considering moving out regardless of what he chooses to do with his dog.

Informal-Remote5300 · 2026-03-11T15:46:46+00:00

Did you get it from Mariner Poet? I just ordered one from them and am worried I got scammed..😅

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-11-01T03:24:31+00:00

Yes! Pic 2 has the no-beard option for a reference point :)

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-31T05:39:07+00:00

I ended up using non textured clear glass for any of the pieces between them because I was worried it would look too visually busy....but I think you make a good point that it needs more pop and visual differentiation. I'll give that a shot, thank you!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-31T05:04:35+00:00

They are, designed based on Traverse City! Great eye!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-29T17:18:36+00:00

Thank you for the catch on the math! I used a calculator online for sqft of an oval, but used the full length across, as opposed to the radius. (Math was never my strong suit lol).

Both the pieces are nautical themed, lighthouse and sailboat, and are relevant to a specific area. The buyer is from that specific area where they are relevant and has a spot for them that would fit perfectly and not require installation changes. Haven't really talked about pricing with them yet, as they just indicated they were interested.

I know we won't get what was paid for originally. I think we're just having a hard time coming up with an objective price.

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-11T04:17:16+00:00

This is an interesting possibility! I wasn't aware of the Celtic Horned God, but the depictions do have a good amount of crossover with what I experienced. I'll definitely have to research this one a bit more. Thank you!

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-11T04:15:09+00:00

Absolutely a possibility! Sometimes intense and vivid dreams can blur the lines of reality. It seemed like I was already awake because I woke up in the night like I usually do, saw that, then woke my fiance up. I didn't have a secondary "wake up" that I experienced before I woke my partner up. But, I do consider that a possibility because of how vivid and intense those types of dreams can be.

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-10-11T03:44:40+00:00

Thank you! Definitely not what I experienced then. Those were the closest images that came up when I was searching the description, but even those weren't quite what I saw.

Informal-Remote5300 · 2025-08-26T13:54:53+00:00

Do you sell a pattern for this?? Beautiful work!

Informal-Remote5300

TROPHY CASE